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For all those that don't know Kuala Lumpur is in Malaysia, and was the city featured in the movie "Entrapment"
Official Seeks End to Soccer Betting
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 8:10 a.m. ET
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Predicting an upsurge in illegal gambling on the World Cup finals, Asia's soccer body urged police across the continent Thursday to crack down on unauthorized betting syndicates.
Peter Velappan, general secretary of the Kuala Lumpur-based Asian Football Confederation, praised Hong Kong for recent raids on three bookmaking syndicates there, but warned that illegal gambling would be widespread during the May 31-June 30 World Cup finals.
``It can be envisaged that when the World Cup gets under way at the end of May, syndicates associated with illegal betting will be even more active,'' Velappan said in a statement.
``I would urge the police throughout Asia ... to be vigilant in stamping out this problem,'' he said.
Velappan named Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam as countries that need to be vigilant, without saying why.
Last Sunday, Hong Kong police arrested 21 people after smashing three illegal bookmaking gangs in an operation against illegal betting on the recent English FA Cup final.
Vellapan said the arrests went ``a long way toward stamping out unhealthy practices from becoming associated with the sport.''
Betting on soccer is outlawed in many parts of Asia, although gamblers are increasingly making wagers over the Internet, which is difficult to police.
Thai police considered delaying television coverage of World Cup matches to deter gamblers, but dropped the idea after a backlash from angry fans and television executives.
Official Seeks End to Soccer Betting
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 8:10 a.m. ET
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Predicting an upsurge in illegal gambling on the World Cup finals, Asia's soccer body urged police across the continent Thursday to crack down on unauthorized betting syndicates.
Peter Velappan, general secretary of the Kuala Lumpur-based Asian Football Confederation, praised Hong Kong for recent raids on three bookmaking syndicates there, but warned that illegal gambling would be widespread during the May 31-June 30 World Cup finals.
``It can be envisaged that when the World Cup gets under way at the end of May, syndicates associated with illegal betting will be even more active,'' Velappan said in a statement.
``I would urge the police throughout Asia ... to be vigilant in stamping out this problem,'' he said.
Velappan named Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam as countries that need to be vigilant, without saying why.
Last Sunday, Hong Kong police arrested 21 people after smashing three illegal bookmaking gangs in an operation against illegal betting on the recent English FA Cup final.
Vellapan said the arrests went ``a long way toward stamping out unhealthy practices from becoming associated with the sport.''
Betting on soccer is outlawed in many parts of Asia, although gamblers are increasingly making wagers over the Internet, which is difficult to police.
Thai police considered delaying television coverage of World Cup matches to deter gamblers, but dropped the idea after a backlash from angry fans and television executives.